"I'm looking forward to going back to be honest. I had eight great years there, no regrets. If you're not wanting to go and play in this game then you shouldn't be in football.

Lee McCulloch (centre) will take charge of Kilmarnock this weekend (Image: SNS Group)

"I'm looking forward to it and I know the dressing room, hopefully, will get their confidence back and be looking forward to it."

But McCulloch admits that has not been an easy task. Locke's departure came hours after a 1-0 home defeat by Hamilton, which left them second-bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership and followed their 5-1 defeat at basement club Dundee United.

"It's been hard," McCulloch said. "Last week was the lowest I've ever seen the club... the players.

"The dressing room was really low so this week has been all about trying to get the confidence back and get a bit of enjoyment back into training.

"It was a sad place all round on the Monday but it's up to the player himself to find that inner belief to get his confidence back and want to go the extra yard in training to do that. There's no better game to go into than Saturday's.

"It is difficult circumstances. I spoke to Gary on Saturday night and obviously he was a little bit down, but he just said 'get on with it'. He is going to move on as well.

Lee McCulloch (Image: Craig Williamson/SNS Group)

"It's just about getting on with training, going into Saturday and we will see what happens next week."

The player-coach added: "Everybody has got to take responsibility, not just Gary resigning.

"Everybody at the club has got to take responsibility and that's what we have spoken about this week, taking responsibility and trying to get a winning formula back."

Rangers are a much-changed team from the one McCulloch left following their play-off defeat by Motherwell last May, with Mark Warburton introducing guile and confidence since his appointment as manager.

"They are on a roll just now, they are passing the ball really well, they are organised, they have a great manager, a great tactician," McCulloch said. "He knows the game inside out.

"So it's going to be tough but we need to go there and believe. And hopefully we can just put on a better show."